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liesbethvv's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
What an interesting and challenging read! It’s the first novel of Colson Whitehead I read and I totally get why his writing style and imaginative plots are so beloved. It took me quite a while to really get into the characters and the moody descriptions of a New York enveloped in spiralling crime, but once I got there, I couldn’t wait to get to the point where the plot reaches its climax. Very riveting and I highlighted a lot of interesting lines and observations.
geerthy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
haleywathen96's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kyra_c_c's review against another edition
4.0
Started with a bang and I loved it instantly. Whitehead's style really grabs you, with acute observations one minute and a wry chuckle the next. I expected the heist to be the whole novel so I was surprised when it was over quite quickly, but it was a catalyst for the rest of the events in the book. Definitely as reviews have said, "a love letter to Harlem" - a place I know nothing about now or in the 60s: it was very enjoyable to read the rich descriptions of the city and its people. I love Ray and his attempts to walk a line between straight and crooked and all the interweaving of his childhood without flashbacks- great solid writing. I felt it lost some momentum towards the end and it took me a while to finish, hence 4 stars.
sanfordc11's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nichughes's review against another edition
4.0
Different than any story I’ve read. I loved the tension between good and bad, plus how Whitehead highlighted the degrees of “bad” and developed Ray and the other supporting characters. It feels slow and overly descriptive at times, especially in the beginning, but I felt I was in Ray’s head by the end. I can still picture the furniture store and other spots that used throughout… it feels like I was watching a TV show! The descriptive parts about Harlem, gentrification, activism, socioeconomic differences, etc. all layered onto what would have been a good crime/suspense story on its own. I especially liked the way three points in time were used as jumping off points for Ray’s trajectory and how the previous part fed into his current dealings. I’ll be stewing on this book for a while. The narrator for this was top notch, def recommend the audio version.
nottooscarythanks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Blood, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Police brutality, and Gun violence
readingonfogo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25